Crime & Safety

Repeat Drug Dealer Convicted, Canonsburg Police Praised for Their Help

Andre Allen Williams guilty of violating federal narcotic laws—thanks in part to an investigation aided by Canonsburg police officers.

After deliberating for six hours, a federal jury this week found Andre Allen
Williams guilty of violating federal narcotic laws, United States Attorney David J. Hickton announced—also lauding the Canonsburg Police Department for its help in the investigation that led to the conviction.

Andre Allen Williams, 42, of East Hills Apartments, East Hills Drive, Pittsburgh, was tried before Senior United States District Judge Alan N. Bloch in Pittsburgh.

The evidence presented at trial established that Williams brought more than $146,000 in cash to a drug deal involving five kilograms of cocaine. Recorded conversations played for the jury showed that this deal was a prelude to another 20-kilogram cocaine deal between Williams and his Mexican-born
co-defendants Mario Soto and Emilo Carmona-Cepeda. The evidence also showed that Williams and his girlfriend, Marquetta Mitchell, were traveling with Carmona-Cepeda from Pittsburgh to Texas two-and-a-half weeks earlier when police stopped them in Tennessee.

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The vehicle driven by Carmona-Cepeda was found to have nearly $220,000 hidden inside—mostly within secret compartments in the headliner of the vehicle.

At the time of the incidents, Williams was on Federal Supervised Release after serving more than 10 years of a prior 211 month federal sentence. Williams was previously convicted in the federal district court in the Northern District of West Virginia of conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver more than 2 kilograms of cocaine, money laundering and possessing a firearm in furtherance
of his drug crime.

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Williams' criminal history also includes conspiracy, drug, theft and other convictions. Soto, Carmona-Cepeda and Mitchell all pleaded guilty and are serving lengthy federal sentences.

Judge Bloch scheduled sentencing for April 25, 2012 at 12:30 p.m. The law provides for a total sentence of not less than 20 years and up to life in prison, a fine of up to $10 million, or both.

The Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of Andre Williams with the valuable assistance of not only Canonsburg, but the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency as well as local police officers from Coraopolis, Findlay Township, Robinson Township, Monroeville, Wilkins Township and the 21st Drug Task Force in Tennessee.


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